Washing machine



Feb. 23, 1943. L Y 2,311,811

WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug; 7, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQR BY 26 25 W i An' RNEY H. H. BEASLEY 2,311,811

WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 7, 1941 Feb. 23, 1943.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 /l/l/ll 52 7 .47 27 L 29 I ATTOR A:

Patented Feb. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WASHING MACHINE Horace H. Beasley, North Bergen, N. J.

Application August 7, 1941, Serial No. 405,739

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to appliances detachably mountable within a work tub and usually including a power unit and tool operatin head, with driving connections therebetween, for work upon some tub content, as, for instance, for the washing of dishes in the tub. A device of this general character is shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 354,639 filed August 29, 1940.

An object of the-invention is the provision of means whereby, more securely and with more ease and certainty than has heretofore been attainable, the appliance may be set to the tub at any desired elevation or position therein.

Where a variable speed drive forthe operating head is provided, a further object of the invention is a mounting of motor and speed controlling device such that wear and breakage of the latter due to vibration of the motor and shocks may be avoided, and certainty of operation and set of the speed controlling parts thus at all times assured.

A feature of the invention in a preferred embodiment thereof is the provision of a standard for the appliance adapted to bridge the interior of the tub between opposed walls thereof, and having wall-gripping legs adjustable for a preliminary setting, according to the width of the tub at any desired elevation therein, which legs are resilient, so that after the preliminary setting thereof they may be flexed toward one another for the insertion of the appliance into the tub, and thereafter be released to their spring action to exert a spring pressure against the walls of the tub, firmly to hold the appliance to the tub.

A further object of the invention in a preferred embodiment thereof is a support for the operating head and tool, such that the tool may be adjustably and rigidly held in selected position for the work to be done thereby, but may be thrown clear of the tub content to an idle position for insertion, removal, and other handling of the tub content.

Other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a preferred form of apparatus embodying the present invention; a tub in which the apparatus is seated being shown in cross-section;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, looking from the right;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the power unit, or motor, and of the mount thereof and driving connections therefrom to the tool operating head Fig. 4 is a top view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view in right-hand side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged top view of the parts shown in Figs. 3 and 4, partly broken away, and showing the adjustable speed-control device in full-line driving position, and in dotted-line position for change of speed.

Referring to Fig. .1, ll] indicates a work tub in which a standard H is supported by legs l2 and 13, having feet is and is, respectively, at the lower ends thereof bearing against the opposed inside faces l6 and I! of the walls of the tub.

The standard ll carries at the base thereof a tubular member or sleeve 18, and the legs 12 and I3 are ofiset toward each other at their upper ends, as at i9 and 20, see Fig. 1, for telescoping movement, one leg independently of the other, in the sleeve 18 at opposite ends of the latter. Set screws 2! may be loosened to permit of adjustment of the legs 12 and 13 to and from each other in the sleeve 18, and may be tightened to lock the legs I2 and I3 in the sleeve l8 in any desired adiusted position thereof.

The legs l2 and I3 have forwardly extending offsets 22 at their lower ends, see Fig. 2, and on these offsets are pivotally mounted the feet I4 and I5 above mentioned. The feet will turn angularly on the ofisets 22 and 23 to lie flush with the inside walls of the tub, as shown in Fig. 1. Any suitable means of attachment for the feet to the'legs, such for instance as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, may be provided. The feet preferably carry on their wall contacting faces strips of some non-slip material 25, see Fig. 1.

In mounting the standard in the tub the set screws 2| are initially loosened to permit the legs to take a position where the feet It and 15 are slightly wider than the width of the tub at the level of the tub adapted to be engaged by said feet and the set screws are then tightened. In order to hold the feet l4 and 15 in preliminary position a turn buckle 26 is utilized to connect the forward ends of the forwardly extending offsets 22 and 23 at the lower end of the legs and the legs lowered into the sink. On release of the turn buckle the legs due totheir resiliency with their associated feet or shoes l4 and I5 are sprung outwardly to clamp the device to the sides of the tub.

After the standard has been set in the tub with the set screws 21 tightened, as aforesaid, the tum-buckle is operated to flex the legs l2 and it slightly toward one another. This should permit of a slight drop of the standard in the tub. In any such new position of the standard the feet It and I will still engage the opposite side walls of the tub. After this, the tum-buckle 28 is rotated in a direction to release the legs 25 to spring action away from one another, causing the feet I and I5 to be spring pressed tightly against the tub walls, with a grip thereon which will prevent any displacement of the standard when the device is in operation.

As against any force which in the operation of the device might cause the standard to be rocked angularly in the tub notwithstanding the grip of the feet I4 and I5 thereon, the following device is provided. An upper cross bar 21 of the standard has a bracket arm 28 thereon, see Fig. 2, with a U bend at the end thereof.' The wings of the U are perforated in vertical alignment with each other for vertical movement therein of a rod 28. The rod 29 at one end is offset at 38 and carries thereon a lug 8| preferably shown as a thick rubber sleeve.

The rod 28, together with the lug 3|, is freely movable up and down in the bracket 28, but may be secured at any desired elevation by a set screw 28'. The rod may be adjusted to bring the lug 8| into contact with the upper edge of the sink or with any ledge or other fixture. In this manner the standard II, in addition to its support on the sink at the feet I4 and I5, is provided with means for steadying the standard against angular displacement.

To remove the standard and parts supported thereby, it is only necessary to loosen the set screws 2| and to push the legs toward one another in the sleeve I8, thus freeing the feet It and I5 from the sides of the tub. The feet might also be released by turning the tum-buckle 26 to flex the legs I2 and I3 away from the tub, in which event the tum-buckle, after removal of the device, would be actuated to release the legs I2 and I3. In any event, on the removal of the device from the tub and for storage thereof, the set screws 2| are preferably released to permit the legs to be pushed toward one another as far as permitted by the ends of the sleeve I8, so that the device may be compact when not in use. After such setting is had, the set screws may be tightened to hold the legs in place to the sleeve I8.

Referring now to Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, there is shown a casing in the form of a cabinet 50. The cross bar 21 of the standard has flxably secured to the top thereof a pair of crosswise extending bars 5|. The cabinet 58 is removably secured to the bars 5|, as by screws 52, passing through the bottom of the cabinet. In the right hand side of the cabinet, see Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, is the motor, the mount therefor, and the drive from the motor to the operating head. In the left hand side of the cabinet may be any suitable tool container, (not shown), or other equipment.

An electrically driven motor 53 is shown as having on the top of the casing thereof a block 54, secured by screws 55 to the horizontal arm 58 of an L shaped bracket forming part of a motor standard which may be removably attached to the bottom of the cabinet 50. The motor standard is shown as comprising a triangular base plate 51 having blocks 58, preferably of a rubber or other shock absorbing material, secured to the upper face thereof, one at each corner as by bolts 58'. At the back of the motor base plate, and supported upon two of 75 the blocks 58, is a U shaped bracket consisting of a lower horizontal cross piece 59 and two parallel vertical bars 80 and 6|. This bracket is set between the rear posts 58 and is supported 5 on the same by tie pieces 62 resting on the tops of the posts 58, and attached as at 63 to the vertical members 60 and 6|. A brace 64 is secured at its front to the front post 58, and at its rear to the cross piece 59 of the U shaped bracket.

The motor supporting bracket arm 56, together with the motor suspended therefrom, is adjustable up and down on the motor standard for speed variation, as presently more particularly to be described. The vertical standard members 88 and 6|, above mentioned, comprise the support on which the motor is adjustably mounted. For this purpose there is a bracket arm 65 projecting forwardly from the top of the vertical bar 68, see Fig. 3. This arm 65 is fixedly secured to the bar 68, and has secured thereto, as at 66, the

upper end of a coil spring 61. The lower end of this coil spring is shown as hooked into an opening in the arm 56 to which as heretofore stated the motor casing is secured. The spring 61 provides a resilient and yieldable support for the motor upon the vertical bar 60. The tendency of thespring is to draw the motor upward, and the spring thus in effect counterbalances the weight of the motor, so as to make hand adjustment of the motor upward and downward easy.

As shown in Figs. 3 to 6, the bar 60 has screwed or otherwise attached to the inside face thereof a pair of lugs or bearing pieces I8. Slidable vertically, and rotatable, on the bearing pieces 18 is a rod II, having aflixed thereto, somewhat centrally thereof, a vertical plate I2. This plate is set against or otherwise secured to the vertical member of the L shaped bracket 56 to which the 0 motor casing is screwed. It follows, therefore,

that as the motor is adjusted upward and downward, the bracket 56, plate I2, and rod II move therewith.

The upright bracket member 6| has secured at the upper end thereof a plate I3 shown in Fig. 3 as of U shape. The front edge of the intermediate reach of this plate I3 is graduated or notched at intervals, as indicated at I4, each such notch being indicative of some one speed of drive for the motor. The plate I2, which provides the mount for the motor on the rod II, has flexibly secured to the back thereof, as by means of rivets I5, a plate I6, shown more particularly in Fig. 4. To the back of this plate I6 is secured a bracket arm, which, (see Fig. 4) extends rightward, as indicated at 11, to a point beyond the side edge of the motor supporting arm 56, and then forward as at I8 until beyond the front edge of the vertical bracket arm 6|, then rightward again, as at I9, and finally forward as at 88. On the portion of 19 of this bracket arm is secured a detent 8| having a lip 82 engageable with any one of the notches 14 in the bar I3, for holding the motor at the required elevation for the given speed.

As heretofore stated, the rod II not only supports the motor for vertical adjustment of the latter, but being itself revoluble in its bearings I0, provides for swing of the motor angularly on bracket arm 68.

The detent 8| is caused to be disengaged from the graduated bracket member I3, for vertical adjustment of the motor, or engaged with such graduated bracket member, for driving of the operating head, according to the direction in which the motor is swung in bearings III. The

normal or driving position of the motor is that shown by the full lines in Fig. 6, in which the detent 8| is shown as engaged with the notch d bar I3.

On swing of the motor in clockwise direction, (see Fig. 6), to the dotted line position, the detent 8| is disengaged from the notched member I3 for vertical adjustment of the motor.

Carried by the motor supporting arm 58 is an arm 82' which is brought forward to the front of the motor and then extended crosswise thereof, and to the right hand end of which is attached one end of a coil spring 83. The other end of this coil spring is attached to an eye piece 84 carried by the upright 8|. The tension of the spring 83 is such as to urge the motor in counterclockwise direction to bring the parts to the full line, Fig. 6, position for driving of the operating head. The flexibility of the spring 83, however, permits the motor to be turned in clockwise direction for disengagement of detent 8| from graduated bar 13. A finger piece 88 on an arm 86 connecting to the arm 88 serves as a means for swinging the motor against the action of the coil spring 83. shown as protruding through an opening in the cabinet case 58, to the outside thereof, for ready accessibility.

It has been pointed out that the arm comprising'the parts 11, I8, and I9, carrying the detent 8|, is not rigidly attached to the motor supporting bracket plate 58, but is attached to a plate I8 resiliently connected at I to the bracket 58. To the arm 11 is attached another arm 81 which is bent over the top of the plate I2 and brought forward, as at 88, some distance beyond that plate, where it is again bent downward as at 88. To the part 88 of this bracket is attached one end of a coil spring 98, the other end of which is attached-at 9| to the upright portion of the L shaped motor-supporting arm 58. The spring 98 tends to urge the plates I2 toward the back of the upright front of motor supporting arm 56. This resilient connection of the detent 8| to the motor supporting bracket permits the spring 83 to hold the detent in engagement with the graduated bar I3 even though the motor be subjected to considerable angular and other vibration. It is thus that the detent, or pawl and ratchet, connection for determining drive of speed is relieved of destructive shocks and strains arising from vibrations or knocks. I

The driving connections to the tool operating head are as follows:

Within the motor casing is a motor-driven shaft 82 geared to a vertical shaft 93. Adjustably set to the shaft 93, as by means of a set screw 94, is a sleeve 95 carrying a friction-gear wheel 98. Carried on the upright bracket member 88 near the top thereof is an arm 91, to the forward end of which is fixedly attached a sleeve 88. Through this sleeve passes one end of a flexible driving connection 99, which extends to the operating head. Secured to this flexible driving connection at the left hand end of the sleeve 98 is a disc I88 adapted for frictional engagement with the friction wheel 98.

The nearer the wheel 98 to the axis of the disc I88 the faster the drive, and vice versa, the nearer the friction wheel 98 to the periphery of the disc I88, the slower the drive. Therefore, on upward adjustment of the motor, with the driving whee1 98, (which must move vertically therewith), a slower drive of the operating head is This arm. 88 is effected; and vice versa, when the motor is lowered.

When the motor is swung angularly on the rod 'II against the tension of the spring 83 to re- 5 lease the detent 8| from the graduated bar ll,

the friction wheel 88 is swung clear of the disc I88 to permit easy up or downward adjustment of the motor. On release of the motor to the action of the spring 33, driving wheel 7 88 is .10 brought into driving contact with the disc as the detent 8| enters its selected notch in the bar I4.

The flexible connection 88 is shown in Fig. 3 as passing through a sleeve or cylinder, into the distal end of which a chuck I82, for any selected tool holder I88. The tool holder is a spring piece bent into U shape to form a pair of jaws. Carried by the rear of these jaws, and projecting through the front one of the jaws, is a threaded stud I 81. Threaded onto this stud is a hand wheel I88 adapted to be turned clockwise to force the jaws toward one another and counterclockwise to allow them to spring apart.

Each jaw I88 carries a, tool gripping tongue I89. These tongues are shown as flaring outwardly from one another, so that the mandrel I I8 of the operating head may be laid horizontally in the pocket formed by them, or may be pushed vertically down between the same. When the mandrel is thus setvertically, the finger whee1 I88 may be turned to tighten the jaws against the mandrel to hold the same rigidly for any work to be done thereby over the tub content.

To move the arm I85 to working position, it is swung forward on its axis on the stub shaft I83. For locking the arm in working position over 5 the tub content, there is threaded onto the stub shaft I83 a sleeve III. When this sleeve is turned in one direction it pinches the arm I85 to the bracket I83 to hold the arm in any angular position to which it may have been set.

A finger piece 2 set into the sleeve III and held thereto by' a set screw, serves to lock and unlock the arm I85. When the operating head is not in use the arm I85 is preferably unlocked and pushed back so that the operating head and tool may be clear of the tub content, for hand operation on such content. In Fig. 1 there is shown lying upon the tool carrying jaws I88 a clothes wringer I I3, to which the operating head is shown as connected. This is merely illustrative of the variety of tools which may be used in connection with the invention.

It will be obvious that, within the scope of the invention, the structure shown and described is susceptible of considerable modification.

It is claimed:

1. A standard for supporting a work unit in a tub, comprising a horizontally disposed slideway member, a pair of depending legs having upper portions horizontally offset for insertion into the slideway member from opposite ends of the latter, means for adjustably securing the offset leg portions in the slideway member, and means for flexing one of the legs against the spring tension thereof to move its lower portion toward the other leg, for insertion of the standard into the tub, and for thereafter releasing the flexed leg to the spring tension thereof, for effecting a spring pressure thereof upon the side of the tub.

2. A standard for supporting a work unit in a tub, comprising a horizontally disposed slideway member, a pair of depending legs having upper portions horizontally offset for insertion into the slideway member from opposite ends of the latter, means for adjustably securing the oflset leg portions in the slideway member, and a turn-buckle connecting the legs at their lower portions for flexing one of the legs against the spring tension thereof to move its lower portions toward the other leg, for insertion of the standard into the tub, and for thereafter releasing the flexed leg to the spring tension thereof, for effecting a spring pressure thereof upon the side of the tub.

3. A standard for supporting a work unit in a tub, comprising a pair of wall-gripping elements adiustable toward and from each other according to the width of the tub, for engagement each with one wall of the tub, and an adjustable arm, offset from the plane of said wall-gripping elements, for engagement with the top edge of the tub or other ledge or fixture, to prevent angular displacement of the standard in the tub.

4. A standard for supporting a work unit in a tub, comprising a pair of wall-gripping elements adjustable toward and from each other according to the width of the tub, for engagement each with one wall of the tub, a rodadjustable in the standard and having an offset portion, and 9. lug on the offset portion of the rod for engagement with the top edge of the tub or other ledge or fixture to prevent angular displacement of the standard in the tub.

5. A standard for supporting a work unit in a tub, comprising a depending, pivotally mounted arm having on the lower end thereof a tool carrier, means for locking the arm in a forward tooloperating position, and for releasing the arm for movement thereof to an idle position in which it is clear of tub content.

6. A standard for supporting a work unit in a tub, comprising a pair of legs adjustable one with respect to the other for a spread thereof according to width of tub to be spanned thereby, means for locking the legs in relative adjustment, and means for flexing one of the legs for setting the standard to the tub, and for releasing such leg to the spring action thereof, for a spring grip of the legs upon the tub.

7. A standard for supporting a work unit in a tub, comprising a pair of legs adapted to span a width of tub, and means for flexing one of the legs for setting the standard to the tub, and for thereafter releasing such leg to the spring action thereof, for spring grip of the legs upon the tub.

HORACE H. BEASLEY. 

